Fending Off The Storm (Journal)

[Trigonxv]

Log# 1

 

The Holy See has ordered me to long range patrol for a brief period. I questioned whether it wise to be sent away given the nature of our situation, they responded that due to the breach at the steps of faith, should the dravanian horde mount a joint assault we risk a battle at 2 fronts. Such a possibility exists and as such I am to patrol the regions beyond our lands with due secrecy in order to quell any dravanian forces that may be building up and root out any heretical conclaves. When patrolling regions beyond the homeland I am to wear garb similar to that of travelers or more so the adventurers and I am to not make use of my abilities to maintain secrecy. The Holy See also tasked me with a secondary objective however this one is of a lesser priority to me and will only be carried out if the matter presents itself before me. If during my patrol I come across fellow countryman I am to convey that the Holy See declares that they return to the homeland in order to bolster the defenses.Their response whether favorable or not is not my concern all that they wished is that I make those who need to be aware of the situation become aware. Such a task is not meant for one such as I, it belongs more to emissaries and messengers mayhap even inquisitors, however things are changing and ill omens loom above us therefore we all must make whatever effort we can provide. Before I set off I was provided with a Crystal with spells woven into its very structure, should the looming storm come crashing down upon the Holy See it will recall me back no matter my location so that I may use my all my strength to defend my homeland. I pray to Halone my time away will aid us and that we will prevail when the storm has subsided just as we always have.

[Trigonxv]

Log# 2

 

During my patrol in coerthas I came across an injured female midlander. There were obvious signs that she was engaged in combat and the results were not favorable, before I approached her I made a careful observation of the surrounding area. Whatever conflict arisen there the parties involved aside from the midlander have already vacated the area, while maintaining a high alert he approached the woman and checked to see if her consciousness remained in tact. She was alert but her injury coupled with the weather dulled her movement and upon closer examination the wound she had sustained was to her abdomen due to an arrow. She told me she removed the shaft of the arrow but the head remained in her, I offered my aid in temporarily dressing the wound and getting her to an outpost but she adamantly declined saying the removal of the head was enough. She claimed she could handle herself afterward and I remarked to a degree that she ended up in such a situation due to how she handled herself, a sharp rebuttal came from her thus ending my attempt to reason with her. I removed a dagger and questioned if she was ready, she simply give a quick nod and braced herself. I aimed the dagger carefully at the entry wound and kept my hand steady and then in the next moment I swiftly removed the arrow head, the woman jumped slightly due to the pain and exhaled in relief but quickly collected herself and gave me her thanks. Before I left I warned the woman that our people already face enough trouble as it is and do not need others bringing in more trouble to our lands, as I began to walk away she remarked she ended up in such situation because she was aiding us. I knew nothing of the situation nor did the Holy See alleviate me as to any other operations that may be occurring on my patrols. If I was not made aware then it is best for me to not involve myself in the matter any further I simply gave her parting words of thanks and nothing more.

[Trigonxv]

Log# 3

 

I have left Coerthas for the time being and have begun my patrol in the other regions. I have decided to travel towards the thanalan region and reach the city state of Ul'dah, I am loathing the idea of setting forth within those walls. The words greed and corruption are synonymous when travelers speak of the place and it appears there is tension building up within the city. However despite its abundant shortcomings it a place where many individuals of all sorts gather thus the possibility of relevant information within its midst is there. I can ascertain the state of the region regarding any cultist activities as well as possible dravanian influence, of course my words will be subtle so that the ordinary individual will think of it as nothing more than idle chatter. The city will also provide me with an opportunity to find any of my countryman, although the idea that they would choose to remain in such place gives room for hesitance I will nevertheless seek them out. During my time in the region I will keep a keen eye on the drakes to further my investigation on possible dravanian influence, should there numbers dwindle or if they become fiercely territorial, the possibility of dravanian encroachment is viable and must be dealt with.

[Trigonxv]

Log# 4

 

I have arrived in the thanlan region but am still quite a distance away from the city. The blistering heat has me slightly offset, my natural comfort to frigid temperatures and sometimes low visibility is completely thrown off by the vast difference in weather between the two. I took a moment to let my body adjust to the environment before continuing on. As I traveled the roads I passed by a couple of travelling merchants who tried to sell me their wares but I aptly turned them down and continued. As night approached I decided to set up a camp for the night but before I could do so the beastman of the region encircled me, I was aware of their presence for some time and made sure to maintain a sizable distance but it seems the distance was not large enough. I carefully analyzed the situation before drawing my lance, it was different from the one I usually use but effective nevertheless. The moment I drew my lance a beastman charged me, within an instant I dashed with my full strength towards it and ran my lance through it before it realized what had happened, before the others could react I eliminated them with a series of dashes and various techniques all the while making sure not to make use of my more potent abilities. As the night fell upon me all the beastman were dead and I had to vacate the area quickly before their allies came looking for them, although rest would have been preferred I traveled the roads at night without rest until daybreak. I found myself near an outpost at daybreak and after a bit of negotiation or eloquent robbery as I interpret it I took a moments reprieve before I continued onward.

[Trigonxv]

Log# 5

 

I have made it to the city and upon my arrival I was questioned by the so called "police" force of this city if you could even call them such. They exuded an air of secrecy and corruption, to allow such people positions of authority clearly shows the shortcomings of these people. I managed to satisfy their questioning and was allowed in the city after paying a fee of course, once inside I carefully began to question various citizens regarding any dravanian or heretics. My tone was hushed and brief for I felt eyes upon me with every step waiting for a reason to no longer just watch. I was making little progress traveling the streets of the city and decided that my chances were better off at the adventurers guild, when I arrived a subtlety questioned a few patrons and adventurers alike. My progress was no different and this notion was cemented when I decided to shift my questioning to try and ascertain the location of fellow countryman, I approached a hyur woman with blonde hair outside the guild and questioned her on whether she has seen or know of any who hail from Ishgard, she simply shook her head payed no further heed to me. More or less the same occurred among others, I was given no information regarding the matter, while I am grateful such people feel a need to hide their presence the fact remains that should the Holy See fall responsibilities they thought they left behind will fall to them and everyone else around them unhindered and relentless. I decided to no longer question anyone else and to just keep my ears open for passing whispers that held relevant information and although scarce I did acquire some useful information. Once I obtained some amount of information, on a whim visited the wards of the adventurers to try my hand there, I met more less the same degree of responses however one such estate was indifferent to my questioning and tried to answer to the best of their ability and while it was limited it gave me more insight than what I had already acquired. Two points I will have to investigate is the local tournament of fighters held within the area, its plausible some of my countryman are participating in such an event and if they are it worries me why they would not put forth their strength for the homeland. Another piece of information I acquired was that an inquisitor was present in the city and that they frequented the adventurers guild. I will have to remain in the region for a time then in hopes of getting in contact with them in hopes that they can alleviate in detail the state of certain matters so that I may continue onward.

[Trigonxv]

Log# 6

 

My time in observation has gathered scarce results in this region regarding the whereabouts of my countryman. I will send what little information I have obtained back to the Holy See and return to my primary concern. After a very extensive search I picked up the trail of a dravanian, it has made great efforts to conceal its presence however before my eyes its presence is as clear as day. Judging by the depth of the foot prints and distance between the sets the dravanian was a land unit. It is also quite large but not large enough to catch immediate attention, I surmised it conducted its hunting from night to dawn and took shelter in its lair during the day. The tracks I found were recent which made it easier for me to narrow down my search range and while although still large it is manageable. In order for me to find its lair I must be keenly aware of when wildlife standard to the region begins to dwindle, the less I see the closer I am to its lair. Another sign would be a lack of aerial creatures, although it is a land unit the possibility of an airborne unit keeping watch on it is possible thus warding off any creatures that may frequent the air space. My search took quite some time and lead me dangerously close to some beast tribe encampments, I imagine that when the opportunity presented itself the dravanian snatched up some drakes and possibly some of the beast tribe themselves. If that is the case I must take due caution for if the creature dare to challenge a beast tribesman territory far away from the mass of the horde it is one of significant strength. My travels eventually began showing the signs I was looking for, a lack of wildlife compared to elsewhere and the stench of scorched flesh subtly is wafted in the air and grows stronger as I approach an abandoned mine shaft. When I entered I was greeted by a bellowing roar confirming my guess on its size however what I did not expect was subsequent roars varying in volume, none were larger than the initial roar indicating it was the leader. I slowly drew out my lance, my eyes were focused, my breathing calm and controlled, my blood beginning to stir due to the approaching battle, however before I set forth I chanted a small prayer. "Halone, grace my lance with your fury so that I may brilliantly vanquish my enemy and should I fall let the terror and death I reap upon thy enemy make them lament and fear when they face another who follows you." With that I traverse deeper into the den of dravanian.

[Trigonxv]

Log# 7

 

*The pages of this journal entry have spots of blood and the writing although still legible to read is more rough than the previous entries*

 

The dravanian have been dispatched however the events leading up to my victory were not ideal. Upon reaching the lair I found the land unit I was tracking however something I did not expect presented itself before me. The dravanian had 3 heads, such creatures are particularly deadly when fighting them. Since all 3 heads acted independently of each other predicting the course of action of each head is a tall order, what also makes them deadly is that among the horde they can command multiple squadrons at once making them a key strategic component within the horde. Upon realizing what it was that I was facing I looked up to confirm my suspicions unsurprisingly multiple dravanian lined the walls of the lair from what I could see and perhaps even more hiding within the darkness. I quickly revised my strategy and charged the land unit quickly, no sooner than I did the dravanian on the walls began to swoop down trying hinder my movements so that their commander can strike me down easily. The battle was long and arduous, eventually I managed to finally bait out the commanders flames seeing the orange glow in the lungs of the 3 heads the flames would spew forth with explosive force which was what I was waiting on. Just before the commander released its breath I managed to land a forceful strike on all 3 heads sending their fires to the ceiling of the lair, in no time at all a rumbling took place and soon after rocks began to fall from above. The dravanian roared in anger and panic as they had little room to maneuver even more, before they could orient themselves I drove my lance into their commander who was also distracted by the falling rocks as well quickly ending its life. The result of this was that the dravanian now flew in a frenzy and succumbing to the crumbling lair, I narrowly escaped into another cavern however the way from which I entered is no longer accessible. I must now wander these caverns for a new exit, I am sure there is another way out, although the dravanian were foolish enough to make base here they would not privy themselves to only one exit and entrance. Through Halones grace I will escape these caverns and continue my mission.

[Trigonxv]

Log# 8

 

It has been some time since my last entry, the caverns took more time than expected to navigate thus prolonging my return to the Holy See. The situation has changed since I left, the stars are still indicating an attack approaching despite efforts on various fronts to alter this attack. Due to this my operations of rooting out heretics and dravanian in the other regions are halted. Instead in addition to reinforcing the defense of the Central Highlands I will be safeguarding fellow countryman who are returning to the homeland and maintain their safety until the Holy See can assign them all proper roles. It will be a trying task but resources are stretched thin and every force is being utilized to the utmost capacity to face the peril that approaches us. On a smaller note there is a possibility I may be guarding inquisitors, I have not briefed entirely regarding this but was made aware that due to heretics gaining more precedence a very capable set of combat ability will be necessary should there be a need for them to travel beyond the homeland. I am being beckoned now, there is seldom time for rest these days and I fear there will be less in the coming days.